Post-snip regret is a real thing, people. We've all been there; sitting in the salon chair, fighting back the tears and with a tremble, thanking your hairstylist for the short cut... "I've never looked better." The outright lie is now laughable.
That said, the right short haircut does exist—it just needs to match your face shape (and your vibe, obviously). Whether you're eyeing an edgy pixie, a cool-girl bob with bangs, or a low-maintenance lob, we've rounded up short hairstyles that look gorge on everyone.
Oval, round, heart, square, and diamond face shapes, get ready to lose some length but keep all the style with the following cuts. Your new 'do is just a scroll away...
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Shark FlexStyle Hair Blow Dryer & Multi-Styler
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Oval face shape
Oval girls, count yourselves lucky because with a balanced face, a variety of hairstyles—no matter the length—will suit you. “This face shape is super balanced, so pretty much any bob will look great,” Samantha Cusick, professional hairstylist, previously told Cosmopolitan. “You can play around with different lengths and textures for variety.”
Adding to this, hairstylist Danielle Garner says that “a classic blunt bob with curtain bangs will highlight the symmetry in the face.”
Try: A middle-parted bob. Whether it's a graduated bob or shaggy bob, a symmetrical bob will suit you.
Round face shape
Round face shapes are typically looking to elongate their features, and the best hairstyle to do this with is a longer bob.
“If you want to elongate your face, a longer bob (also known as a lob) is a great option,” says Samantha. Hairstylist Chlöe Swift also agrees, saying that the goal is to create the illusion of length: “Longer lengths with layers and face‑framing pieces work a treat.”
Try: A long layered lob
Heart face shape
Heart-shaped faces are defined by a wider forehead that narrows into a pointed chin, meaning that a hairstyle with volume around the jawline will likely suit you best. A textured or bouffant bob adds volume around the jawline or lower face, drawing attention downward and creating a more harmonious silhouette.
Do, however, avoid super-short or flat bobs with no volume. These styles can make the forehead appear wider and the chin narrower.
Try: A textured or bouffant bob—curled ends and movement around the jawline is where it's at.
Square face shape
For those with square-shaped faces, which typically features a strong jawline, broad forehead, and angular features, the goal is to soften the angles and create the illusion of length or roundness.
“Soft, wispy texture helps balance out the angles of your jaw and brings out your natural glow,” says Danielle, so a curly, textured shag may be the cut for you. This style works especially well with natural texture or curls, as it plays against the squareness with irregular shapes.
Try: A shag cut with lots of layers and volume on top—it'll add height and elongate the face.
Diamond face shape
Pixie haircuts are best suited to diamond faces because of how the style interacts with the proportions and angles of these shapes. Narrow foreheads and chins, with wide, prominent cheekbones, define diamond-shaped faces. A pixie cut draws attention to the eyes and cheekbones, enhancing rather than overwhelming those natural high points.
Try: A soft, textured pixie – it can soften angularity without hiding the face.
How to find your face shape
Good news! Discovering which face shape you have is simpler than you might think. Chlöe shares that all you need to do is: "Pull your hair back, look in a mirror with even lighting (avoid shadows) and observe these key areas."
- Forehead width
- Cheekbone width
- Jawline width
- Face length
When looking at these areas, you should be able to visualise a shape in the mirror. However, if you're struggling, she breaks it down further:
Oval face shapes: The length of the face is greater than the width, with a rounded jaw and forehead width slightly wider than chin width.
Round face shapes: They are more equal in length and width, with a soft, rounded jawline and soft cheekbones.
Square face shapes: They are more equal in width and length, with a strong jawline and flatter chin.
Heart face shapes: You have a wide forehead, strong cheekbones, and a narrow jawline with a more pointed chin.
Diamond face shapes: You have a narrow, small forehead and narrow, pointy jaw with defined pointy cheekbones.
Final tips:
Always bring reference photos to your appointment and ask your stylist for details on length, layers, texture, and bangs, so that you're fully 'in the know'. There's nothing worse than going into a haircut blind! And don't forget to pick your stylist's brains about maintenance and styling tips.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she’s an expert in recognising the season’s next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You’ll usually find her putting TikTok’s recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it’s true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
